Reading Time: 5 minutes
Raising an exceptionally gifted child can be interesting, exciting, and…exceptionally stressful.
You may have noticed that your child is reading at a significantly higher level than their peers, intrigued by concepts beyond their age, or academically accelerating to the point of being bored in the classroom.
It can be challenging for parents to meet the needs of a gifted or exceptional (1E) child, but it can be especially difficult when the child is twice exceptional (2E). Twice exceptional refers to children who are gifted and also have a special need or learning disability. It is common for 2E children to fly under the radar at school as they often use their intellectual gifts to hide their disability; however, parents may struggle to manage them in their home lives.
It can be exciting to watch your child accelerate, however associated behavior challenges with gifted children can cause additional stress for both the parent and child.
Managing Outbursts
While your child may have intellectual capacity beyond their young age, their emotional maturity may remain at or below their anatomical years. For example, an eight-year-old may be able to read at a fifteen-year-old level but is not able to emotionally grapple with the concepts that they are processing.
This can be overwhelming, as they struggle with how to process the information or compartmentalize its associated emotions. Tantrums or outbursts may ensue. Although a gifted child may have the ability to make intellectual arguments that could challenge an adult, a small disruption like peas touching potatoes on their dinner plate could set them into emotional turmoil.
Parents might feel as though they need superhuman powers to keep up with their little ones. Luckily, developing effective support systems between parents, teachers, or trainers can help. Our neurofeedback trainers are equipped to assist you with managing your 2E child and to help them reach their highest potential.
Schooling Challenges
A school environment can be a real challenge for 2E children as their educational needs vary from the average student. They require advanced and challenging course work, as well as special behavioral support.
2E children are sometimes overlooked for special assistance, with teachers dismissing their behavior as being uncooperative or lazy. In some instances, twice exceptional students do not qualify for additional support as their grades are high enough to reflect a well functioning student. However, frequently these children are not being challenged to their potential and are overlooked for appropriate programs. 2E children commonly feel frustrated as classes do not accommodate their special needs or challenge them to reach their full potential. This can lead to the child becoming isolated, anxious, or experiencing low self-esteem.
It is crucial that parents are working with their teachers to ensure a positive learning environment is being fostered. This may mean offering more stimulating course work, additional tutoring, or regular check-in meetings. NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback training can be incorporated into this management strategy. Training can help improve your child’s mental acuity to raise focus, manage stress, boost self-esteem, and cope with challenges more effectively.
Emotional Effects
Gifted and 2E children often realize that they are different from their peers at an early age, causing stress and anxiety. While they may come to understand with age that they have been given a gift, young children crave normalcy and fitting in.
In addition to this, 2E children are often tackling large concepts that are usually out of the realm of understanding for most young kids. Their ability to process daunting, adult ideas can become a source of anxiety or existential depression as they are not emotionally equipped to handle this information.
Parents should discuss issues with their child in an optimistic and straightforward manner to alleviate possible worries. Seeking out guidance through parenting counselors and books is also a great option. Neurofeedback training can assist in managing your child’s stress, helping them to handle anxiety and manage negative emotions. NeurOptimal® sessions promote relaxation and should be used as part of an overall mental wellness program.
Parental Effects
It can be exhausting and emotionally taxing to watch your child struggle, and it can also be an isolating experience that sets you apart from other parents. Additional stress comes with the gift of an exceptional child. Parents may experience feelings of inadequacy or guilt when they are unsuccessful in meeting their child’s unique needs. All parents wish to see their child thrive and suffer when they are floundering.
Traditional parenting advice may not be appropriate for your special little one. For parents of gifted or 2E children, lack of knowledge or disagreements about how to cater to their needs, discipline them, or develop effective lines of communication can cause damage to the family unit.
Studies have shown that finding a support group with other parents who are dealing with similar issues can be extremely useful. We suggest finding a local support group near you or jumping on an online forum to interact with other parents. We also encourage you to call us to find out how NeurOptimal® training may help you manage the stress of raising a 2E child.
Your Child Needs You At Your Best
Parents of 2E children are often so busy with raising their children that they don’t make time for self-care. This may result in a lack of quality sleep or overuse of medication or alcohol to cope with the stress. However, healthy measures can be taken so that you are at your best for your child.
While it may seem difficult, we recommend that parents prioritize self-care practices. This could involve daily exercise, developing a healthy night-time routine, eating nutritious meals, or making time to see family and friends. This will help boost your mood and energy, meaning you have more to offer as a parent.
It is recommended for parents to train alongside their children in order to reap the benefits of neurofeedback training themselves. Training can help to relieve your stress and anxiety and improve your overall health and wellness. NeurOptimal® can also help with sleep management so that you can start the day feeling refreshed and present.
Manage Your Stress With NeurOptimal®
Effortlessly transform your stress and approach each day feeling optimistic with neurofeedback training. Training provides the opportunity for both you and your child to experience self-optimization.
Gifted and 2E children often experience stress and lack of self-confidence at school when they feel like they are different. NeurOptimal® training can help kids to feel calmer in otherwise stressful and challenging environments, allowing them to perform at their best and to benefit more fully from interventions offered.
NeurOptimal® training is enjoyable, effortless, relaxing, non-invasive, and carries no risk. Call us to discuss how we can help your child to reach their potential and simultaneously manage your stress as a parent.
“As a parent of a twice exceptional child, I lived in a constant state of stress, I was always feeling overwhelmed and inadequate, and disagreements about discipline put a strain on my marriage. I bought all of the parenting books but nothing really helped until we found neurofeedback. NeurOptimal training was extremely helpful for my child as well as myself and the rest of the family and actually improved relationships between all members of our family” – N.S., TX
